Fulham and Crystal Palace have emerged as contenders for Chelsea’s Tiémoué Bakayoko, according to Calciomercato.
AC Milan have been frequently linked with the midfielder and the website looks at the difficulties faced by the Serie A side in completing the operation.
It’s claimed the 26-year-old has put the Rossoneri at the ‘top of preferences’, and is ‘willing to wait with the hope’ of returning to the San Siro.
Milan already have a ‘draft agreement’ with the player for a base salary of €2.8m for a period of four years. However, they first need to agree a deal with the Blues, for which, there’s ‘obstacles.’
The Italian club’s idea is to take Bakayoko on loan (paying €5m loan fee) with an obligation to buy for €25m. His contract expires in 2022, which is why Chelsea don’t want to let him go out on a temporary deal.
If Milan were to buy the player this summer, they need a ‘substantial discount’ from the Premier League side.
Stefano Pioli’s side value him around €22-23m, and the contacts between the two clubs have been going on for a long time, without reaching an agreement. There’s still difference between supply and demand.
Calciomercato state it’s a given that Bakayoko will leave the English club because he’s not included in Frank Lampard’s plans. However, it’s not clear where he will end up because Milan could face competition from Fulham, Crystal Palace and Lyon.
Fulham and Palace interest in Bakayoko could be genuine, but given the constant reports of Milan wanting him, dragging the two English clubs could be a ploy to put pressure on the Serie A side.
Calciomercato end their report by stating; ‘These are important hours, Tiémoué is a priority of AC Milan, who will try to reduce the distance with Chelsea.’
